Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown Attacks Opponent Jon Husted Over Data Center Tax Breaks
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is actively campaigning against opponent Jon Husted's support for data centers in Ohio, citing concerns over tax breaks and increased electricity costs. This stance creates friction with some labor unions who favor the construction jobs generated by the industry. Governor Mike DeWine previously vetoed a measure to end data center tax breaks but has since announced a moratorium on new ones.
Sherrod Brown, a U.S. Senator and Democratic candidate for re-election, has intensified his campaign attacks on Republican opponent Jon Husted over his support for data centers in Ohio. Brown's recent ad labels Husted as "the face of data centers in Ohio," criticizing his role in granting "sweetheart tax deals" and fast-tracking approvals, which Brown claims led to soaring electricity bills for residents. This political strategy places Brown at odds with some of Ohio's powerful building trades unions, who champion the data center industry for its significant creation of construction jobs.
Husted, currently Ohio's lieutenant governor, has been a key proponent of data center development, especially during the late 2010s before the recent AI boom positioned Ohio as a national hub for the industry. While Husted has recently adopted a more critical stance, even joining President Donald Trump at a White House event where AI executives pledged to self-fund their electricity needs, Brown continues to advocate for ending state tax breaks for data centers and imposing requirements for reduced water usage and consumer protection from increased electricity costs.
The issue has created a political rift, with business groups supporting the industry's economic impact and its pledge to cover future electricity costs. Conversely, some Ohio Democrats, including Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur and State Rep. Tristan Rader, have also expressed concerns about data centers, arguing they should not drain state resources or burden residents with subsidies. Ohio lawmakers have debated eliminating the data center tax credit for over a year, with Governor Mike DeWine vetoing a measure to end them last summer, though he has since announced a moratorium on new data center tax breaks.